Guido was a little surprised when earlier this month Louise Mensch described Boris as a “massive Europhile“, insisting he “would not leave [the EU] under any circumstances” and that his “hardcore pro-EU” position meant he could never lead the Tories. That wasn’t the Boris Guido remembered. And it isn’t exactly the sentiment reflected in his withering eurosceptic attack on the EU in today’s Telegraph.

Boris condemns the upcoming Euro elections as a “complete sham” and says that “the EU is a racket”. He makes clear he would leave the EU if renegotiation fails: “It may indeed come to that, if we cannot get what we need in a renegotiation”, and describes Britain staying in the European Parliament as “a growing if”. He concludes: “Euro-scepticism is rampant in large parts of Europe, and cynicism about the parliament is at an all-time high. I see no reason at all why Britain should not lead the way”. Boris is more in the Farage mould – he loves Europe but doesn’t like the EU…